Plenette Pierson said she was just doing what was necessary Sunday when she came off the bench and turned in two big defensive plays to keep the Detroit Shock's season alive.

It's a role the 6-2 forward has played all year, so well in fact, that Tuesday she will be named the recipient of the first WNBA sixth player of the year award, according to a league official with knowledge of the selection.

Pierson, who stood her ground in the post late in the game Sunday to deny the New York Liberty and force a Game 3 tonight at Detroit, came off the bench this season to average a career-best 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds. The fourth pick in the 2003 draft out of Texas Tech has started just 41 of the 167 WNBA games she has played.

"She has been consistent all year long," said Shock guard Katie Smith. "Her versatility off the bench, on offense and defense, has been huge. She is like an all-purpose player."

One purpose this season was to fill the void created by Cheryl Ford's knee injury, which forced the All-Star game MVP to miss the last 13 games of the regular season.

"We needed her," Smith said of Pierson. "One of the main reasons for our success has been because she was able to step in" when Ford was injured.

Smith said Pierson's contributions this season have carried over from Detroit's championship run last year.

"I'm glad she is being recognized for the work she has put in not only this year, but last year as well," Smith said. "She has been a big part of what we have done the last two seasons."

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